Customs and duties: plan ahead, no nasty surprises

The three kinds of charges you may face on arrival

1. Customs duties — generally calculated on the value of the goods; whether they apply, and at what rate, depends on your country and on how the goods are classified.
2. Import VAT, GST or sales tax — in many countries, a consumption tax is charged on arrival, under the rules of your country.
3. Local or territorial levies — some territories, particularly certain overseas and island territories, add their own tax on arrival.

The golden rule: the exact amounts come from your customs broker. Rates, exemptions and procedures depend on the destination, the exact nature and classification of the goods and the regulations in force when they arrive — we take no chances with these figures, and no serious seller should. The customs broker or freight forwarder who clears your container gives you the precise amount, before delivery.

Our role: liaising with the forwarder

On the Bali side, Alain handles the shipment and liaises with the freight forwarder so that your file is complete and nothing gets stuck at the port. On the arrival side, the customs broker guides you through clearance and taxes. The full sequence is described in "How it works".

The right reflex: ask before you order

The problem is never the tax — it is the tax discovered too late. Before committing, ask a customs broker or freight forwarder at your destination which charges apply to your project: it is a routine, quick request. Tell us where you are, and we will point you in the right direction.